Waging in on Star Wars – Rey’s Parentage

Waging in on Star Wars – Rey’s Parentage

Having now seen Star Wars The Force Awakens twice, I feel comfortable enough to wage into the internet discussion. This will not be a review. I loved the film and felt it was a true Star Wars film, and I don’t feel the need to review it. Instead I’m going to post a few of my own theories.

So to get it out of the way. This post WILL contain spoilers. IT WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS.

Now I may not be the first to post this particular theory, but damnit it’s been rolling around in my head for a while now.

I think Rey is a Kenobi!

Now before you all shout me down with the popular “She’s clearly Luke’s daughter” theory…. shut up! I don’t care. She’s not a Skywalker. Star Wars is not ALL about the Skywalkers and there’s already far too many of them around. It’s too easy an answer, it wouldn’t be a surprise or a twist, and it would be a pretty non-impact of a revelation.

First things first. The parallels drawn between A New Hope (ANH) and The Force Awakens (TFA) are undeniable. Evil empire running the shot, resistance fighting back trying to free the galaxy. Big space station capable of destroying planets, big planet capable of killing star systems (let’s not get started on the complexity of that little weapon of mass destruction). Dark lord in a black mask and big holographic evil controlling him, dark lord in a black mask and big holographic evil controlling him… OK, that parallel is drawn with Empire Strikes Back (ESB), but you get the point.

Now in a ANH we followed along with Luke Skywalker. Luke was strong with the force, but was untrained. He had been hidden from the dark lord by Obi-Wan Kenobi. Luke went off to find Obi-Wan and then Obi-Wan ended up being Luke’s first teacher in the ways of the force. Obi-Wan was then cut down by the dark lord.
In TFA we follow along with Rey (Kenobi). Rey is strong with the force, but is untrained. Slight speculation here, but it seems she might have been hidden from the new dark lord by Luke Skywalker. Rey then goes off to find Luke and it certainly looks like Luke will end up being Rey’s first teacher. It’s also not beyond the realms of possibility that Luke will eventually be cut down by the new dark lord.
Now for a bit more substantial evidence. I’ve watched TFA twice now, with my other half both times and her hearing is a lot better than my own (something to do with my love of metal played at loud volumes probably). Now after the first viewing she turned to me and said she heard Obi-Wan’s voice both during Rey’s flashback-y vision when she touches Luke’s lightsaber, and also when she’s trusts in the force during her battle with Ren.

I did a little bit of research and it appears that both Ewan McGregor and Alec Guiness are both credited as voice parts in TFA. So during my second viewing I paid a bit more attention and it does appear as if Rey hears Obi-Wan’s voice during both scenes.

Let’s flashback to ANH again and after Obi-Wan is struck down by the Vader Luke hears his voice. At this point Luke is largely untrained and unfocused. It’s only when he becomes stronger with the force that we see Obi-Wan appear as a force ghost. It’s entirely possibly therefore that Rey can hear Obi-Wan at this point, but not see his force ghost yet. Maybe in the second film we’ll be getting some Ewan McGregor Obi-Wan ghosty (seems fairly unlikely we’ll be getting Alec Guiness back unfortunately).
The last bit of information which might help support the theory is that Kylo Ren’s real name is apparently Ben. Now it would make sense that he is named after Obi-Wan Kenobi who was also known as Ben Kenobi. Not really evidence, but it would certainly make for an interesting little wink towards a character who is arguably just as influential as any of the Skywalkers.

Now I’m a little invested in this theory, I won’t lie, because Obi-Wan has long been my favourite character in the Star Wars universe and I would love to see his legacy live on in the future of the franchise, rather than disappear into obscurity. That being said there are a few issues with this theory.

Rey’s parents… If Rey is a Kenobi then she has to be Obi-Wan’s granddaughter or maybe even great granddaughter. The Jedi are meant to be celibate if the prequels are to be believed, but that’s a rule of the Jedi Order which was destroyed by Anakin and Palpatine. It’s quite possible that Obi-Wan slipped on a few of his vows after the end of the order. Of course then we also have to ask who and where are Rey’s parents?

On the other side of Rey’s parents, I find it hard to believe that Luke had a daughter and not even his closest friends and loved ones knew anything about it.

Luke’s lightsaber flies to Rey instead of Kylo. Some people might say this is because Rey has a more direct blood link to Luke than Kylo does. Of course it’s also quite possible that it’s because Rey has a more direct link to the light side of the force than Kylo does. Who knows what makes the larger impression on a lightsaber. Besides, Obi-Wan may not have built the lightsaber, but he owned it for longer than Anakin ever did, even if it was just a relic.

So there’s my thoughts on the question. I think it would be very cool for Rey to be a Kenobi instead of a Skywalker and it would also be a bit out of left field. Either way, it’s just one of the many questions The Force Awakens posed that I can’t wait to be answered.